The Sedente Animo Civic Club of Rayville hosted the 2025 Cotton Blossom Cotillion on Aug. 16 at the Rayville Arts Center.
In all, 86 young ladies from around Richland Parish participated this year. The girls in grades nine through 12 were escorted by their fathers or another designated family member. The Cotton Blossoms all wore beautiful evening gowns and were presented in front of friends, family, and peers. Serving as master of ceremonies for the evening was Jay Brakefield.
All Richland Parish high school age girls are eligible to become a cotton blossom. Sign up was in the spring, with flyers being distributed around the local schools and on social media.
Community service is the heart of the Cotton Blossom organization, and all Cotton Blossoms must have at least 12 hours of community service to participate each year. These young ladies had opportunities to serve in many activities around our community like volunteering at local ballparks and schools, working the Chamber of Commerce dinner and riding in the Rayville Christmas Parade. These young ladies are learning valuable lessons about giving back to their communities in a meaningful way and are building character and confidence while promoting leadership. Volunteering one’s time also brings awareness to selfless acts of service, which is always for the greater good and it’s a basis for what our organization stands for.
Senior Cotton Blossom members were asked to write an essay about their views on a variety of different topics. These essays were blindly judged by a panel of representatives from the Sedente Animo Civic Club. The chosen winners were given a scholarship.
Receiving the Amelia Jordan scholarship in the amount of $500 was Kaleigh Wisenor. She is the daughter of Justin and Shelley Wisenor. Receiving the Darla Thames scholarship in the amount of $500 was Effie Bolton. She is the daughter of Jackie and Michael Bolton. The recipient of the $300 Belinda Crawford Memorial scholarship was Marra Beth Hutson. She is the daughter of Misty and Michael Hutson.
Cotton Blossom seniors who meet the requirements are gifted engraved picture frames and pink cords to wear at graduation and are eligible for the scholarship opportunities and placed on the Cotton Blossom Queen Ballot. The seniors voted for the queen on cotillion day, and this year’s Cotton Blossom Queen is Kayleigh Wisenor. This award is given to the queen by her peers for displaying integrity and kindness and outstanding leadership skills.
The seniors eligible for this honor include: Sarah Kate Barmore, Effie Bolton, Debra Bruyninckx, Kate Crawford, Carly Dean, Evie Eldridge, Maddie Fryer, Gracie Gill, Presley Head, Marra Beth Hudson, Brooklyn Lively, Olivia Malmay, Mary Frances Mulhern, Jordan Nielsen, Maggee Shiers, Micaela Turner and Kaleigh Wisenor.
In 1962 the Sedente Animo Civic Club was organized with the purpose of bringing together the young women of the community to help advance and assist civic improvement and to cooperate with and promote interest in education and community service.
Sedente Animo means “with settled purpose.” The club’s motto is “Pursuits and deeds that are honorable is our goal.”
The 2024-2025 Sedente members include Hannah Allen, Crystal Bennett, Chastidy Brakefield, Taylor Branch, Mallory Cater, Paula Cobb, Carlette Cooper, Alexa Clack, Mandi Clack, Renée Crawford, Samantha Crawford, Lindsey Cumpton, Paula Cumpton, Jennifer Garrett, Sharon Gilmore, Chessa Harrington, Katie Jackson, Savannah Morris, Laura Mulhern, Megan Payne, Rachel Stephenson, Cathy Strickland, Jan Strickland, Darla Thames, Kasey Thompson, Kym Trisler, Emilee Turner and Heather Wisenor.
The club would like to give special thanks to the Richland Parish school system and Constance Garner, Rayville Methodist Church, Savannah Kate Photography and Jay Brakefield.
